By Thiloththama Jayasinghe, Jadetimes News
The exploration by Sri Lanka of open ocean aquaculture represents a major evolution in its fishing industry, which was originally based on the natural productivity of its waters within 200 nautical miles of the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Indian Ocean. The general trend for a long period has been capture of wild seafood, with over 90% of the country's seafood from wild capture fisheries. Nevertheless, considering the unsustainability of over-dependence on natural marine resources and the continuously increasing global demand for farmed seafood, Sri Lanka has recently begun to turn to aquaculture as a means of achieving sustainable increases in seafood production.
Aquaculture in Sri Lanka originated in the early 1980s with shrimp farming in the coastal mangrove and brackish water areas. The sector grew rapidly, and the current number of shrimp farms is estimated to be about 1,400, with 70 hatcheries. In the 1990s, farming of the Indo-Pacific Swamp Crab added to the portfolio in aquaculture.
Further to develop aquaculture in the country, the Government of Sri Lanka, through NAQDA, initiated projects like crab cultivation zones in Hambantota and Batticaloa. These so-called "crab cities" are designed in a way that will call for private sector investment and enhance the production of crabs meant for both local and international markets.
The government also formed Fisheries Mega Zones in the Eastern and Northern regions of Ampara and Kilinochchi, respectively, to try to raise the country's stake in the global seafood market. These are engaged in farming high-value species such as Asian Sea Bass or Barramundi, finfish, and sea cucumber-all globally in high demand but rapidly depleting in the wild.
The expansion has even gone to non-traditional species: shrimp, crab, oyster, and lobster. Most of the private sector investments in the development of offshore Barramundi and finfish farms are situated in the Trincomalee Ocean. More recently, there has been a sea cucumber hatchery launched in Mannar to address the other development axis of sea cucumber farming.
Organic aquaculture production is another promising aspect of Sri Lanka's offshore fish farming. In this approach, the country can target high-end seafood markets across the globe, the demand for which is growing due to sustainably and organically farmed seafood.
By way of a HACCP-based quality system, the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of Sri Lanka has been involved in ensuring quality and sustainability through its Fishery Product Quality Control Unit from the culturing stage up to harvesting and processing. It would assure high standards of export quality markets and further reinforce Sri Lanka's commitment to sustainable aquaculture.
In other words, open ocean aquaculture efforts by Sri Lanka are a strategic indication to gear the country toward sustainable seafood production, which could increase foreign revenue without harming marine ecosystems.
